Dec. 16, 2006

Box Score

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The University of Denver women's basketball team opened Sun Belt Conference play with a 68-56 loss to West Division leader UALR Saturday afternoon at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock, Ark.

"I thought me missed some easy shots and I thought we gave up some easy shots," head coach Pam Tanner said. "When you combined that with 25 inopportune turnovers it is hard to get the win on the road. I thought we played hard but sometimes that just isn't enough."

UALR (8-3, 2-0) jumped out to a six-point lead to start the second half but the Pioneers (4-5, 0-1) clawed their way back into the game to tie it, even taking a one point lead at 13:04 remaining in the game. UALR, led by Kim Sitzmann's 20 points, took control of the game after that, and went on to the win. DU got within five points late in the game but the Trojans' offense proved to be too much for the Pioneers.

DU shot 40.8 percent in the game, while UALR shot 52.2.

Junior Sara Benham (Muleshoe, Texas) led the Pioneers in scoring for the second straight game with 12. Senior Tyesha Lowery (Arlington, Texas) contributed 11 points, despite having missed most of the first half with foul trouble.

Denver's offense started out hot, getting out to as much as a 12-point lead, but UALR went on a 15-2 to end the half, sending DU into the locker room trailing 24-23.

DU returns home Wednesday, Dec. 20 to face Wyoming in Magness Arena at 7 p.m. The game will be webcast live on www.denverpioneers.com, called by Mitch Hyder and Mary Kay Mauro.